Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review- Jordan

The Last Jedi is the eighth episode of the Star Wars saga. This entry sees Rey seek training from Luke Skywalker, while the Resistance continues their fight against the First Order.

Without a doubt, this is going to be a controversial Star Wars film among fans. It’s a different movie for sure, and it takes a lot of chances. Some people will be okay with these choices, and others won’t. In my opinion, for the most part they work and pay off. I really enjoyed this movie. First off, this might be the most beautiful Star Wars movie ever made. Rian Johnson does quite a job directing this movie. There are some shots in here that, without a doubt, will become iconic within the Star Wars universe. The sound design and John Williams’s score are also both amazing and some of the best the series has to offer. I think if the movie gets any Oscars love, it’ll be in those categories, as well as the visual effects, which are outstanding. The performances are all solid here, with Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley stealing the show. I also have to mention the late great Carrie Fisher who turns in another good performance as Leia before her unfortunate death. The Last Jedi also expands on the mythology and lore of Star Wars, adding several new ships, weapons, and characters, most of which are pretty awesome. The newly introduced planet of Crait is stunningly beautiful, and maybe my favorite planet seen so far. Lastly, though the film has a darker undertone, it might just be the funniest Star Wars movie yet. It has a lot of humor in it,possibly a bit too much at times, but most of it works.

All those things that I mentioned above, I really, really loved about the movie. Unfortunately, there are several things that I really disliked about the movie. Without spoiling anything, the movie takes a lot of risks and chances, but there were several times I thought it was gonna take more chances, then went a safer route. It is hard to fault the movie too much for that, however. What I can fault the movie for is having a weird pace. It takes a while for it to get going. Part of the reason for that is a side plot in the middle that feels out of place. It has kind of a weird, on the nose political message, and feels like a completely different movie. This movie would be pretty much flawless if that was cut out.

Despite all of that, the movie is another great installment in the Star Wars saga, and I can’t complain about that. Parts of this are the best in the series, but the movie as a whole is not. Don’t let anyone else tell you whether or not to see this movie. Some people will love it, others won’t. But see it for yourself and make your own decision. A lot happens and it takes a while to process it. It gets even better on a second viewing. I won’t say where this falls among Star Wars movies yet, as I still need more time to think on it. I have a feeling it’ll get even better with more time and viewings, but for now The Last Jedi gets a 4.5/5.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments, but please leave spoilers out for the sake of those who haven’t seen it yet. I may do some sort of spoiler talk post down the line and we can discuss it there.